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Event Information:
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Sun02Feb2020
Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, Tone 1; The Encounter of Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ
GREAT VESPERS
Kathisma Reading
“Blessed is the man...” is sung.At Psalm 140
In Tone 1
- Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.
Accept our evening prayer, O holy Lord,* and grant us forgiveness of sins,** for You alone manifested the Resurrection to the world.
- The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.
O you people, walk around Zion and encompass her.* And there give glory to Him Who is risen from the dead.* For He is our God** Who delivers us from our sins.
- Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!
Come you people, praise and worship Christ.* Glorify His Resurrection from the dead;* for He is our God Who delivered the world** from the deceit of the enemy.
In Tone 1
- Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.
Brethren, let us not pray as the Pharisee:* for he who exalts himself shall be humbled.* Let us humble ourselves before God,* and with fasting cry aloud as the Publican:** God be merciful to us sinners.
- If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.
Brethren, let us not pray as the Pharisee:* for he who exalts himself shall be humbled.* Let us humble ourselves before God,* and with fasting cry aloud as the Publican:** God be merciful to us sinners.
- I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.
A Pharisee, overcome with vainglory, and a Publican, bowed down in repentance,* came to You the only Master.* The one boasted and was deprived of blessings,* while the other kept silent and was counted worthy of gifts.* Confirm me, O Christ our God,* in these his cries of sorrow,** for You love mankind.
In Tone 1
- From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.
O Simeon, tell us whom you are joyfully carrying into the Temple.* To whom are you saying:* Now You may dismiss Your servant, O Lord,* because my eyes have seen my Saviour.* He is the child born of the Virgin.* He is the Word and God of God.* O Lord, Who for our sake was incarnate and saved the world,** to You we bow in worship.
- For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.
O Simeon, tell us whom you are joyfully carrying into the Temple.* To whom are you saying:* Now You may dismiss Your servant, O Lord,* because my eyes have seen my Saviour.* He is the child born of the Virgin.* He is the Word and God of God.* O Lord, Who for our sake was incarnate and saved the world,** to You we bow in worship.
- Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.
O Simeon, now receive the One* Whom Moses the lawgiver had foreseen through the cloud on Sinai.* He has become a child and submits Himself to the Law.* This is He Who spoke through the Law and Whom the prophets foretold.* O Lord, Who for our sake was incarnate and saved the world,** to You we bow in worship.
- Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.
O faithful, come let us welcome Christ* and receive Him with hymns of praise and glory.* He is the salvation Simeon has seen.* He is the One Whom David foretold* and of Whom the prophets have spoken.* O Lord, Who for our sake was incarnate and inspired the Law,** to You we bow in worship.
In Tone 6, Glory… Now…
Today the gates of heaven swing open,* for the Word of the Father Who has no beginning* has received beginning in time* without any loss to His divinity.* As a child of forty days He is offered by a virgin Mother* in the Temple according to the Law.* The Elder Simeon receives Him in his arms and cries out:* Dismiss me, O Master, for my eyes have seen Your salvation;** O Lord, Who came into the world to save us, glory to You!
Readings
(1) Exodus 13:1-3, 11-12, 14-16; (2) Isaiah 6:1-12; (3) Isaiah 19:1-5, 12, 19-21
At the Lytia
In Tone 1
The Ancient of Days, Who of old gave the Law to Moses on Sinai* appears this day as an infant.* The Creator of the Law fulfils the Law.* He is brought into the Temple* and is given over to the Elder.* The just Simeon receives Him,* and beholding the fulfilment of the divine promise, joyfully cries out:* My eyes have seen the mystery hidden from all eternity.* It has been revealed in these latter days.* The Light has radiated the darkness of unbelieving Gentiles* and gives glory to the newly chosen Israel.* Therefore, let Your servant depart from the bonds of this flesh* to the wondrous unending life that knows no age.** And we pray You to grant great mercy to the world.
He, Who once gave the Law to Moses on Sinai,* today submits Himself to the prescriptions of the Law.* In His compassion He has become like us for our sakes.* Now the pure God, as a holy infant having opened a pure womb,* is being offered as God to Himself.* He is freeing us from the curse of the Law** and granting light to our souls.
In Tone 2
Simeon now receives below in his earthly arms* the One Whom the ministers at the liturgy on high entreat with trembling,* and Who was prophesied to become incarnate.* Seeing the heavenly God as mortal man,* he is ready to withdraw from earthly things and joyfully cries out:* Glory to You, O Lord, the unsetting Light,** that uncovers those in darkness.
Today Simeon takes in his arms the Lord of Glory,* the One Whom Moses formerly saw in the darkness* when he received the tablets of the Law on Mount Sinai.* This is He Who speaks through the prophets;* He is the Creator of the Law.* This is He Whom David announced.** He is awesome to all, yet He has great and abundant mercy.
The pure Virgin brings the Sacred One* into the sanctuary to the holy priest.* Simeon extends his hands,* receives Him joyously in his arms, and cries out:* O Master, now You let Your servant go in peace,** according to Your word, O Lord.
The Creator of heaven and earth is carried today* in the arms of the Elder Simeon.* Inspired by the Holy Spirit, he cried out:** Now I am set free, for I have beheld my Saviour.
Today, Simeon the Elder enters the Temple, rejoicing in spirit,* to receive in his arms the One Who gave the Law to Moses,* the One Who fulfils the Law in Himself.* For Moses was counted worthy to see God,* although in darkness and sounds that were not clear;* and with covered face he rebuked the unbelieving people.* But Simeon carried the pre-eternal Word of the father in bodily form,* and he revealed the Light of the Gentiles, the Cross, and the Resurrection.* Anna was shown to be a prophetess,* announcing the Saviour and Deliverer of Israel.* Unto Him let us cry aloud:** Through the Theotokos have mercy on us, O Christ our God.
In Tone 4
Today, the holy Mother who is higher than any temple* has herself come into the Temple* to show the world the Creator and Giver of the Law.* Simeon the Elder receives Him in his arms;* he venerates Him and cries aloud:* Now let Your servant depart in peace,** for I have seen You, the Saviour of our souls.
In Tone 5, Glory…
Search the Scriptures as Christ our God said in the Gospels;* for in them we find Him Who was born and wrapped in swaddling clothes,* the One laid in a manger and fed upon milk,* Who received circumcision and was carried by Simeon.* Not in fancy or imagination,* but in very truth has He appeared to the world.* Let us cry out to Him:** Glory to You, O pre-eternal God!
Now…
He Who is Ancient of Days and young in the flesh* is being brought into the Temple by His virgin Mother.* He fulfils the promise of His own Law.* Simeon receives Him and says:* Now You may let Your servant go in peace,** for my eyes have seen Your salvation, O Lord.
Aposticha
In Tone 1
O Christ, by Your Passion we have been freed from suffering;* and by Your Resurrection we have been delivered from corruption.** O Lord, glory to You!
The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.
Let all creation rejoice, let the heavens be glad,* let the nations clap their hands with joy.* For Christ our Saviour, in His love for mankind,* has nailed our sins to the Cross;* He has put Death to death,* and by raising our fallen forefather, Adam,** He has given life to all mankind.
For He has made the world firm, which shall not be moved.
O God, You are above all understanding;* You are King and Lord of heaven and earth.* Yet of Your own free will,* You allowed Yourself to be crucified because of Your love for mankind.* When You descended below,* Hades was filled with bitterness as You confronted it;* but the souls of the just received You with great joy.* Adam arose when he saw You, his Creator, down in the depths.* What a wonder this is!* You are the life of all and have tasted death* in order to dispel the darkness of the world with Your light.** O Lord, risen from the dead, glory to You!
Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, for length of days.
The myrrh-bearing women were filled with grief* as they hastened with spices to Your tomb;* but they did not find Your most pure body.* Instead, they found an angel* who proclaimed Your unique and glorious Resurrection,* and commanded them to announce to Your Apostles:** The Lord is risen, granting great mercy to the world.
In Tone 8, Glory… Now…
He Who rides on the Cherubim and is praised by the Seraphim* is now being brought into the holy Temple according to the Law.* He is sitting in the arms of an old man as though upon a throne.* From Joseph He receives God-pleasing gifts, a pair of turtle doves,* and from the newly-chosen people of the Gentiles, and undefiled Church.* the two doves indicate that He is the head both of the Old and New Testaments.* As for Simeon, when he saw what had been revealed come to pass,* he received the child and blessed the virgin Mother of God,* pointing out to her the sufferings that she would bear.* He asked the Lord to be released from life, saying:* Now You may dismiss me, O Lord, as You have promised;* for my eyes have seen You, the eternal Light,** the Lord and Saviour of all Christian people.
Troparion
In Tone 1
Rejoice, full of grace, Virgin Mother of God!* From you there dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,* who enlightens those who dwell in darkness.* And you, O righteous Elder, be glad!* You received in your embrace* the Liberator of our souls,** who grants us resurrection. (thrice)
DIVINE LITURGY
Entrance
The Lord has made known His salvation;* He has revealed His truth before the nations.Troparia and Kontakia
Troparion, Tone 1: Though the stone was sealed by the Judeans,* and soldiers guarded Your most pure body,* You arose, O Saviour, on the third day,* and gave life to the world.* And so the heavenly powers cried out to You, O Giver of Life:* Glory to Your resurrection, O Christ!* Glory to Your kingdom!* Glory to Your saving plan,** O only Lover of mankind.Troparion, Tone 1: Rejoice, full of grace, Virgin Mother of God!* From you there dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God,* who enlightens those who dwell in darkness.* And you, O righteous Elder, be glad!* You received in your embrace* the Liberator of our souls,** who grants us resurrection.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
Kontakion, Tone 3: Let us bring sighs of sorrow to the Lord as did the Publican* and approach the Master as sinners,* for He desires salvation for everyone.* He grants forgiveness to all who repent.* For as God, the One-who-is, co-eternal with the Father,** He became flesh for us.
Now and for ever and ever. Amen.
Kontakion, Tone 1: By Your birth, You sanctified a virgin womb* and fittingly blessed the hands of Simeon.* You have come also now and saved us, O Christ our God;* give peace to Your community in time of war,* and strengthen its rulers, whom You love,* for You alone,** are the Lover of mankind.
Prokeimenon, Tone 1
Let Your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in You.
verse: Rejoice in the Lord, O you just; praise befits the righteous. (Psalm 32:22,1)Prokeimenon, Tone 3
verse: My soul magnifies the Lord,* and my spirit has rejoiced in God, My Saviour.Epistle
2 Timothy 3:10-15; Hebrews 7:7-17Alleluia, Tone 1
verse: God gives me vindication, and has subdued people under me.
verse: Making great the salvation of the king, and showing mercy to His anointed, to David, and to His posterity forever. (Psalm 17:48,51)
verse: Now, O Master, You dismiss Your servant in peace according to Your word.Gospel
Luke 18:10-14; Luke 2:22-40Hymn to the Mother of God
O God-bearing Virgin, hope of Christians, protect and guard and save all those who put their trust in you.
and the Irmos, Tone 3: In the law, the shadow, and the scriptures, we the faithful see a figure: every male child that opens the womb shall be sanctified to God. Therefore do we magnify the first-born Word and Son of the Father who is without beginning, the first-born Child of a Mother who had not known man.Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest. (Psalm 148:1)* I will take the chalice of salvation;* and I will call upon the name of the Lord.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 116:13)